Yemen, Niger, China

Today's three stories you should know

Yemen

The UN food agency says it is halting its work in northern Yemen despite the country being in the grip of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. World Food Program (WFP) officials told AP that harassment from Houthi rebels, who control the north, and funding shortages had forced the decision. The move is likely to exacerbate an already dire situation in Yemen where, according to WFP, about 17 million people are food insecure. The Houthis have in recent years cracked down on the U.N. and other organizations, claiming they are spies, which the U.N. denies. The country descended into civil war in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa, forcing the government to flee and go into exile.

More from AP here.

Niger

Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard near the main airport in Niger’s capital Niamey overnight, according to residents. Footage circulated on social media showed streaks of light in the sky, flames and charred cars. The country’s military junta took power in 2023 as the government struggled to contain an insurgency by al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked groups that Niger is battling alongside the military rulers of Burkina Faso and Mali. Calm appeared to have returned to the city by morning and it was not immediately clear what caused the violence. West Africa has been hit by a wave of military coups since 2020.

More from AFP via Africa News here.

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China

China has executed 11 members of a notorious mafia family that ran huge scam centers in neighboring Myanmar, duping people across the world. The Ming family’s operation was focused on the northeastern border region and, along with other gangs, they transformed the small town of Laukkaing into a hub for casinos and prostitution. Hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked to run online scams in Myanmar and elsewhere in South East Asia, according to authorities, earning billions for organised criminals. The Ming’s Laukkaing business was brought down in 2023 when rebels in Myanmar, where a civil war is ongoing, took the town from government forces.

More from BBC here.